CIVIC, CULTURAL & ENVIRONMENTAL

WIN THE BATTLE FOR THE
GARDEN AND ENJOY THE
GLORY OF SPRING

Spring--arguably the most delightful time of year--is here and with it come beautiful flowers, dancing butterflies, singing birds and longer days to enjoy outdoors. Oh--and insects, weeds and other outdoor pests. Not to worry! A series of fact sheets produced by the City of Santa Monica will equip you with the information you need to easily and effectively maintain your yard and garden, virtually free of unwanted pests. And with the health and safety of you, your family and pets in mind, these fact sheets describe methods and products recommended by the leading experts in the field of less-toxic pest control. Tips on using less water, fertilizer and time are also included. Many of the products can be found in local stores.

To take advantage of all this information, download the fact sheets at www.smgov.net/environment/pest.htm, or call the Environmental Programs Division at 458-2255 for copies. Fact sheets include:

  • Controlling Slugs and Snails in Your Garden
  • Controlling Aphids in Your Garden
  • Growing a Healthy Garden
  • Tips for a Pest-Free Lawn
  • Wonderful Roses
  • How to Control Weeds

"GREEN STREETS" PROGRAM IMPROVES STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, ENHANCES
THE ENVIRONMENT

Incorporating sustainability into its annual street and sidewalk repair projects, the City of Santa Monica is finding new and unusual ways to minimize urban runoff, replenish groundwater and reduce both air pollution and the nation's rubber tire stockpiles. The Green Streets Program, implemented in this year's street resurfacing projects, has resulted in cost-effective solutions to common environmental concerns--and more importantly, it has demonstrated that a sustainable approach to problem-solving can reap rewards today for the benefit of future generations. Here's a sampling of the "green streets effect" on both the environment and the budget:

REDUCING URBAN RUNOFF
Last December, the city's first "pervious" concrete gutter was installed on Ashland Avenue near Clover Park, allowing water to percolate through the gutter into the ground instead of entering the stormdrain and polluting Santa Monica Bay. When the ground finally is saturated or large amounts of water flow down the gutter at once, it runs into the stormdrain system, as in a traditional gutter system.

Utilizing recycled tire asphalt helps reduce tire noise, improves ride smoothness, minimizes rutting and shoving of the pavement and provides excellent color contrast.
REDUCING AIR POLLUTION
 Cement production is estimated to annually contribute 7% to 8% of all greenhouse gases emitted. The high-temperature, coal-burning process necessary to produce cement from limestone and other minerals results in high levels of carbon dioxide and black carbon being released into the atmosphere. It also creates "fly ash," a waste product similar to the ash that remains after a wood fire has burned out. The Green Streets Program requires the use of this fly ash waste in place of as much as 25% of the cement traditionally used in concrete gutters and sidewalks. This single difference not only reduces the amount of fly ash entering landfills, the demand for cement and the level of emissions of CO2 and black carbon, it also produces a stronger, more workable and durable, environmentally sustainable concrete.

NEW LIFE FOR OLD TIRES
Each year, about 270 million scrap tires are generated in the U.S. Of these, about 61 million are improperly discarded, resulting in water pollution, an increase in insect and rodent populations which thrive in tire piles, and the filling of valuable landfill space. Fortunately, these tires produce a versatile recycled product, especially for street paving and slurry seal, and the city maximizes their use in street resurfacing. An estimated 123,000 tires will be recycled in the city's resurfacing and slurry seal project this year.

REDUCING THE COST OF MAINTAINING CITY STREETS
Another component of the Green Streets Program is the "lifecycle costing" of proposed roadway repairs and reconstruction. After reviewing the long term benefits of concrete pavement in certain heavily traveled areas, including intersections, bus lanes and grade separation on/off access ramps, staff engineers incorporated its use into roadway projects. Since the life of concrete pavement in many of these locations is more than double that of asphalt pavement, the initial added cost of the improvements is recovered several times over during the lifespan of the pavement in reduced long term capital and maintenance costs.

For more information on the Green Streets Program, Please call the Engineering Division at 458-8721.